Canty restaurant named NZ’s best

Lyttelton restaurant Roots has been named Restaurant of the Year in the Cuisine NZ Good Food Awards.

The awards recognised the best restaurants throughout New Zealand at an industry-only cocktail event yesterday at Auckland’s St Matthew in the City.

They were announced in conjunction with the publication of the Cuisine Good Food Guide, which profiles the top 76 restau- rants throughout the country.

Roots is a small restaurant with set menus that showcase local ingredients. It is owned by chef Giulio Sturla and his partner, Christy Martin, who established the restaurant in 2012, following the 2011 Canterbury quake.

‘‘It showed me life is today, not tomorrow, so why not?’’ Chileanborn Sturla said.

‘‘Roots has a fantastic focus on sustainability and localism,’’ said Cuisine editor Sarah Nicholson. ‘‘Sturla grows or forages many of his ingredients and creates some wonderfully innovative, delicious dishes.’’

The restaurant was additionally given the Innovation Award.

Head judge Kerry Tyack said the competition got tougher every year.

Auckland fine-diner Sidart was named Best Metropolitan Restaurant, with Auckland’s The Grove and The French Cafe joint runners up. The Grove executive chef Ben Bayly additionally took home the title of Chef of the Year.

Also in Auckland, the gamefocused Cazador won Best Specialist Restaurant.

Wellington’s seafood-focused Whitebait was named Best New Restaurant, while Ortega Fish Shack & Bar maitre d’ Davey McDonald took the title of Restaurant Personality of the Year.